Sunday, January 25, 2015

Arc Review- Darkside of the Road by Simon R Green

Ishmael Jones is someone who can t afford to be noticed, someone who lives under the radar, who drives on the dark side of the road. He s employed to search out secrets, investigate mysteries and shine a light in dark places. Sometimes he kills people. Invited by his employer, the enigmatic Colonel, to join him and his family for Christmas, Ishmael arrives at the grand but isolated Belcourt Manor in the midst of a blizzard to find that the Colonel has mysteriously disappeared. As he questions his fellow guests, Ishmael concludes that at least one of them not least Ishmael himself - is harbouring a dangerous secret, and that beneath the veneer of festive cheer lurk passion, jealousy, resentment and betrayal. As a storm sets in, sealing off the Manor from the rest of the world, Ishmael must unmask a ruthless murderer they strike again."

I received this book on net-galley from the publishers in return for an honest review.

I love Simon R Green, aside from his sci-fi series I pretty much have ready everything he has ever written. I don't care for the Secret History novels, but the Nightside books and the Ghost Hunter books and many of his stand alone novels are ones I have read over and over and recommended to anyone and everyone.

This book was really good and I can't wait to purchase it in paperback this coming May. It was like Clue on fantasy crack. I always love this authors way of writing people humorously and in a very real and dark way, playing on how we humans have darkness that lurks in our thoughts that we sometimes act on. Mr. Green also has a talent for writing backstories and places that pop, whether that pop is light hearted or sinister and haunted.

This was a great mystery novel and I didn't get the catch until the MC himself figured it out, though I did guess the murderer a bit before hand. I like mysteries where it's a bunch of people locked in a house where they can't leave and people are being murdered, secrets are revealed and EVERYONE is a suspect. My favorite board game is Clue. There is a colorful cast of characters and very much "The Trophy Wife in the Study with the Poisoned Hot Toddy" kind of feel to it. (No that's NOT a spoiler, sheesh, it's just a funny Clue-esque joke.)

My only issue with this book is that Simon R Green write most of his male lead characters the same; Eddie Drood, Ishmael Jones, John Taylor and JC Chance.... all kind of the same person, just different in whether they are human or not and have a unique special gift. I would REALLY like a main character from Simon R Green that is a woman or not a decently handsome dark haired sarcastic awesome guy...Though in THIS book what Ishmael is...is a little kooky.